Most of the blame for their failure to qualify is entirely their own after they lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago in their final qualifier. Just a draw against the team ranked 99th in the world would have been enough for them to book their place in Russia.

Michael Bradley reacts to the defeat (Getty)

Trinidad and Tobago’s Alvin Jones scored the winning goal (Getty)

But the United States can also point to a controversial goal scored in one of the evening’s other games.

Panama won 2-1 against Costa Rica to move up to third (and a point ahead of the US), but their first goal should never have stood.

Trailing 1-0, Gabriel Torres was awarded a goal and an equaliser but replays show the ball never crossed the line.